Loading machine



A. S. KNOIZEN ETAL LOADING` 'MACHINE Filedv Aug. 22, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jam. 23, i945.

A. S. KNOIZEN ET AL Filed Aug. 22, 1942 Jan. 23, 1945.-

Hll'llm 24, Vm QMHI Patented Jan. 23, 1945 LOADING MACHINE Arthur S. Knoizen, Franklin, Pa., and Joseph F.

Joy, Washington, D. C., assignors to Joy Manufacturing Company, a. corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 22, 1942', Serial No. 455,970

17 Claims. (Cl. 198-7) This invention relates to loading machines and more particularly to improvements in the construction of machines for loading coal and other minerals in underground mines.

Several of the veins or seams of coal now being worked in the United StatesA have a parting or band of impurities running through the seam which separates the pure coal into two or more strata. This parting or band varies in different seams from less than an inch to several inches in thickness.

Where the parting is relatively thin, it is customary practice to mine the entire seam at one time and load the impurities with the coal for transportation to the surface where the impurities are separated from the coal while passing through the cleaning or preparation unit. Where a relatively thick band of impurities is encountered each stratum is generally mined separately to prevent intermingling of the coal with the impurities. p

Assuming that the coal seam is divided by a central parting, the upper or top stratum of coal between the roof and the top of the parting is mined and loaded out after which the parting isv mined and gobbed, or disposed of, generally in the worked-out portions of the mine. When the impurities have been gobbed, the bottom stratum of coal is mined and loaded-out. If the coal seam is divided by two or more partings of impurities, the above operations are repeated in this sequence until the entire thickness of the seam has been mined.

The parting or band of impurities is generally some distance above the floor of the mine and it has been necessary to manually load the upper` strata of coal and parting or band of impurities since all the mechanical loading devices heretofore used were only capable of gathering and loading materials -lying on the floor of the mine and were incapable of loading on the elevated benches or shelves formed where the strata are mined separately. Thus the mining of a seam having a relatively wide parting has been a slow and laborious process with low-tonnage output per man, with high-production cost per ton.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a machine for loading coal which is capable of loading minerals lying on benches or shelves of various elevations above the floor on which the machine travels and thus permit each stratum of minerals and parting in a seam to be mechanically loaded independently from the other strata.

Another object is to provide a machine for loading minerals lying in strata of various elevations.

-A further object is to provide a loading machine having a mechanism for gathering and loading minerals which is capable of being elevated and moved forward relative to the chassis for operation in any desired plane above the oor on which the chassis is adapted to travel.

A further object is to provide a shelf-loader in which the gathering and conveying mechanism are supported on an intermediate frame which is capable of being raised and moved forward relative to the chassis.

A still further object is to provide a machine for loading minerals lying in strata which is novel in construction, easily manipulated to gather material at diierent elevations and positive in operation at any elevation.

These and other objects which will hereinafter be made apparent to those skilled in this particular art, are accomplished by means of this invention, one embodiment of which is described in the following specifications and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a loading machine made in accordance with our invention showing the frame supporting the gathering and conveying mechanism in its raised or upper position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the frame supporting the gathering and loading mechanism having portions thereof broken away for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation illustrating the chassis and the supporting frame for the gathering and loading mechanism, one of the side tracks on the chassis being removed.

Fig.' 4 is a section taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 lis a section taken on line V-V of Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a loading machine made in accordance with our invention is illustrated having a chassis I0 provided with an endless self-laying track. II on each side thereof for propelling the machine over the floor of a mine' chamber. The track II is driven by a suitable motor I2 mounted in the chassis frame I0.

The chassis I0 is provided at its rear end with a pair of upstanding laterally spaced arms I3. Journaled in the arms I3 is a shaft I4 on which are pivoted the ends of links I5 having a web I6 therebetween which connectsthe links I5 together. At the forward end of the chassis are upstanding arms I'l ywhich support a cross shaft I8. Pivoted on the shaft I8 is an A-frame I9 having a drilled boss 20 at the top through which extends a shaft 2 I. Journaled on the ends of the shaft 2I are arms 22 which depend from the center portion of a frame 23. The rear end of the frame 23 is provided with transversely spaced bosses 24 which support a shaft 25 on which the upper ends of the links I5 are pivoted.

At its forward end, the frame 23 has an arm 21 projecting upwardly from each side thereof which support a cross shaft 28 on which a head 29 and a conveyor frame'SII forming the gathering and conveying mechanism of the loading machine are pivoted.

The gathering head 29 extends forwardly of the frame 23 and a pair of hydraulic jacks 3l are positioned between the forward end Aof the frame 23 and the bottom of the gathering head 29 which, when actuated, turn the gathering head about the shaft 28 and maintains the gathering head in the desired angular position to the forward end of the frame.

The conveyor frame 30 extends rearwardly from the shaft 28 and lies over the frame 23. In order that the elevation of the rear end of the conveyor frame 30 may be readily adjusted to vary the height of the discharge end thereof, hydraulic jacks 32 are positioned between the frame 23 and the bottom of the conveyor frame 30.

The links I5 and the A-frame I9 normally extend rearwardly from the arms I3-I'l .and lieon the chassis I 0. In this position the frame 23, which is carried thereby, is also supported directly on the top of the chassis I as indicated by the vdotted lines in Fig. 1. In order to swing the frame 23 in a vertical plane and thus raise the gathering head 29 and the conveyor frame 39 to the desired elevation for loading, a hydraulic jack 35 is positioned between the chassis I0 and the frame 23. The lower end of the cylinder of the jack 35 is provided with trunnions 36 which are received in trunnion blocks 3'I carried by the chassis I I).

The outer end of the piston of the jack 35 is journaled on a stub shaft 39, the ends of which are mounted in lugs 40 depending from the under side of the frame 23 forwardly of the arms 22. When the jack 35 is energized, the links I5 and A-frame I9, which together form a linkage support for the frame 23 turn about the shafts I4 and I8 respectively and the frame 23 is elevated or swung in a substantially vertical plane.

Since the links I and the A-frame I9 are connected to the rear and middle of the frame 23, it is apparent that as the links move upwardly, the frame 23 will also be moved forwardly and the gathering head will be extended a considerable distance beyond the forward end of the chassis I0.

'I'he gathering head 29 and the conveyor frame 30 are preferably of a construction now in general use and a motor 45 carried by the gathering head 29 drives the gathering arms 4E`and the conveyor chain, not shown, which extends longitudinally of the conveyor frame 30. The motor 45 is supplied with power through suitable cables, not shown, which extend from the chassis along the A-frame I9 and 'lay adjacent one side of the frame 23.

In operation of my machine, a kerf is iirst-l cut in the upper layer of coal and the upper stratum is then blasted to break the coal into lump size suitable for loading. After the coal has been loosened and broken the motors I2 are energized to move the loading machine forward into loading position, after which the jack 35 is actuated y to raise the frame 23 and the gathering head 30 to the desired height for loading. The machine is then advanced or moved forward until the bottom of the gathering head rests on the bench or shelf supporting the loose coal to be loaded. The motor 45 is then started and the gathering arms 46 pick up and deliver the coal into a conveyor which carries the coal to the rear end of the conveyor frame 30.

As the coal is loaded, the machine is advanced and moved from side to side until all of the loose coal on the shelf or bench has been loaded. After all of the coal on top of the parting has been loaded-out, the parting is then blasted loose or broken up into pieces for loading. To load-out the parting, the jack 35 is actuated to lower the frame 23 a suihcient distance to bring the gathering head to the lower level of the parting after which the machine is again operated to gather up the impurities which may be gobbed or disposed of in the worked-out portions of the mine.

Where there are two'or more partings in the coal seam, this operation is repeated until all of the separate strata of coal and impurities have been loaded-out. When the lowermost strata are loaded-out, the frame 23 rests on the chassis I0 and the gathering head 29 rests on the floor on which the chassis travels.

From the foregoing description of my invention, it is apparent that we have provided a loading machine which is capable of not only loading materials from the floor upon which the chassis travels but also at any desired elevation above the floor within the limits defined by the length of the links I5 and the A-frame I9.

While we have described one embodiment of our invention and explained the use of -our machine in mining minerals separated by one or more partings, it is apparent that certain modications, substitutions,.changes, omissions, and additions may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit of our invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent s:

l. A loading machine comprising a motor driven chassis, a frame, a series of links pivotally connecting said frame to said chassis, a gathering mechanism pivoted to one end of said frame, a conveyor pivoted to said frame, said conveyor and said gathering mechanism having a common pivot, means for turning said links to vary the elevation of said frame relative to said chassis and means for independently turning said gathering mechanism and said conveyor about their common pivot to vary the positions thereof relative to said frame.

2. A loading machine comprising a chassis, a frame, a series of links pivotally connecting said frame to said chassis, a gathering and loading device pivotally supported on said frame, and hydraulic jack interposed between said chassis and said frame for turning said links about their pivots to vary the elevation of the frame and the gathering and loading device carried thereby relative to said chassis, and hydraulic jacks interposed between said frame and said gathering and loading device for turning the latter abouttheir pivots to vary the elevation thereof relative to said frame.

3. A shelf loader comprising a chassis, a moveable frame, links pivotally connecting said fra-me to said chassis, a gathering head pivoted to the forward end of said frame, means for swinging f said head about its pivot, a conveyor pivoted to .on said chassis for swinging movement in a vertical plane from a position of rest on said chassis to a position above and forward of saidchassis, a. gathering device carried by said frame, a conveyor carried by said frame, and means for swinging said frame in such vertical plane to move the gathering head into the desired loading l position.

5. A.l shelf loader comprising a motor driven chassis, a frame, means for mounting said frame on said chassis for swinging movement in a vertical plane from a position of rest on said chassis to a position spaced above and forward of said chassis, loading and conveying means supported on said frame, and means for swinging said frame in Such vertical plane to permit said loading and conveying means to operate at any desired level -above the surface upon which the chassis is adapted to travel.

6. A loading machine` comprising a powerdriven chassis, a frame normally resting on said chassis, a series of links pivotally connecting said :Frame to said chassis, a portion ci' said links being pivoted to said frame substantially centrally thereof and the remainder being pivoted to one end oisaid frame, a gathering head connected to the end of saidgframe, a conveyor connected to said frame adjacent said gathering head, an extensible member pivoted to said chassis and to said frame and means for extending said mem-v ber to turn said links and raise ysaid frame relative to said chassis to move the gathering head and conveyor carried thereby to the desired elevation for loading,

7. A loading machine comprising a powerdriven chassis, a frame normally resting on said chassis, a gathering head carried by said frame and projecting beyond the forward end thereof, a conveyor supported on said frame adjacent the rear end of said gathering head and extending rearwardly over and beyond said frame, a series of links pivotally connecting said frame to said chassis, a portion of said links being connected to said frame substantially centrally thereof and the remainder being connected to the rear of said frame, means for turning said links about their pivots to elevate and move said frame forwardly relative to said chassis and means for varying the position of said gathering head relative to said frame.

8. In a loading machine a power-driven chassis, a movable frame, links pivotally connecting said frame to said chassis, a gathering head pivoted to said frame, gathering devices journaled on said head, a conveyor mounted on said frame adjacent said gathering head, a motor carried by said head for operating said gathering devices and driving said conveyor, means for swinging said links in a verticalplane to elevate said frame and move said gathering head to the desired elevation for loading and means for adjusting said gathering head relative to said frame.

9. In a, loading machine a motor-driven chassis, a movable frame, a gathering head pivotally supported on said frame, rotatable gathering devices carried by said head, a conveyor pivotally supported on said frame, a motor carriedby said head for operating said gathering devices and said conveyor, means for mounting said frame on said chassis for movement from a position of rest on -said chassis to a position above and forward of said chassis, means for swinging said 'frame-mounting, means to move said gathering head and conveyor to the desired elevation for loading, means for turning said gathering head relative lto said frame, means for turning said head about ,its pivot on said frame and means for turning said conveyor about its pivot on its frame.

10. In a loading machine a motorized chassis. a gathering and conveying mechanism, means for mounting saidmechanism on said chassis for movement from a position of rest thereon to a position spaced above and forward of said chassis, means for turning said mounting means to raise and lower said gathering and conveying mechanism relative toV said chassis, means for turning said gathering and conveying mechanism in a vertical plane to vary the position thereof relative to said mounting means and a motor carried by said gathering and conveying mechanism for operating the same during the entire cycle of movement of said mounting means.

11. In a loading machine a power-driven chassis, a gathering device, a conveyor connected to said gathering device, a series of pivoted links connecting said gathering device and said conveyor to said chassis, means for turning said links to move said gathering device and said conveyor from a position of rest on said chassis to a position spaced thereabove, means for varying the position of said gathering device and said conveyor relative to said links and `a motor carried by said gathering device foroperating the same and driving said conveyor during the entire cycle of movement of said links.

12. In a loading machine a motorized chassis having an endless self-laying track, hinged gathering and conveying' devices normally resting onl said chassis, means for raising said gathering and conveying devices to a position spaced above said chassis independently operable means for turning said gathering and conveying devices about their common hinge to vary their positions relative to each other and to the means for raising the same and means for operating said devices regardless of the position thereof relative to said chassis.

i3. In a loading machine a motorized chassis having an endless self-laying track, a head having rotatable gathering devices, a conveyor connected to said head, means for mounting said head and said conveyor on said chassis for movement from a position of rest on said chassis to a position spaced above and forwardly thereof individual means for turning said head and said conveyor to vary the positions thereof relative to the means for mounting the same on said chassis and means carried by said head for driv- 'carried by said head for operating said gather,-

ing devices and said conveyor during the entire cycle of movement of said links and means for varying the position of said head and said conveyor relative to each other and to said links.

15. A loading machine comprising a chassis, a frame supported on said chassis, links pivotally connecting said frame to said chassis, mechanism pivotally mounted on said frame for gathering material at one end of said frame, a conveyor pivotally mounted on said frame for conveying the gathered material across said frame to a point of discharge, means for turning said links about their pivots to vary the elevation of said frame relative to said chassis and independent means for turning said gathering mechanism and said conveyor about their pivots on said frame. 16. A shelf loader comprising a motor driven chassis, a frame supported on said chassis, links pivotally connecting said frame to said chassis, a gathering device pivotally supported on said frame, a conveyor pivotally supported on said frame, means for turning said links in a vertical plane to raise said frame bodily relative to said chassis, said links being so connected to said chassis and frame that as the elevating means are operated, said frame will be moved upwardly and forwardly, and separate means for varying the position of said gathering device and said conveyor relative to said frame.

17. A shelf loader comprising a chassis, a frame, means for mounting said frame on said chassis for swinging movement in a vertical plane, a gathering mechanism pivotally supported on said frame and projecting beyond the forward end thereof, conveying mechanism pivotally supported on said frame and projecting beyond the rear end thereof, means for swinging said frame from a position of rest on said chassis to a position forwardly of and above said chassis, and independent means for varying the position oi said gathering mechanism and said conveying mechanism relative to said frame.

ARTHUR S. KNOIZEN. JOSEPH F. JOY. 

